Neutropenia occurs when blood neutrophil counts are below 1500
per microliter. Some people are born with it like patients with SDS.
It can happen after a viral infection. In some cases the cause can
be a side effect of a drug, or exposure to certain poisons. People
can get neutropenia when treated for cancer with chemotherapy drugs.
Sometimes it happens for no known reason.
Blood is made up of billions of cells. There are many different types
of blood cells, but most of the time you hear about two kinds - red
cells and white cells. There are more red cells than any other type
of blood cell. They are very important as they carry oxygen from your
lungs to all parts of your body. White blood cells are just as important,
but for a very different reason. One of their jobs is to protect you
from infection. There are several kinds of white cells. Each has a
special function. The most common ones are:
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Neutrophils which surround and destroy bacteria
in your body; these include polys and bands. They are the most
numerous of the white blood cells. They make up about 56 percent
of white blood cells. |
|
Lymphocytes which are the key part of your body’s immune system,
and defend against viruses. |
|
Basophils These are indicators of allergic reactions to a
variety of factors. |
|
Eosinophils These will rise above the normal range with allergic
reactions and parasitic infections. |
|
Monocytes These cells will destroy the germ cells that have
killed off by all of the other types of white cells. |
The term neutropenia describes the situation where the number of
neutrophils in the blood is too low. Neutrophils are very important
in defending the body against bacterial infections, and therefore,
a patient with too few neutrophils is more susceptible to bacterial
infections. It is determined by calculating the Absolute Neutrophil
Count.
Everyone has been sick with an infection at one time or another.
That’s because it’s easy for bacteria and viruses that cause infections
to get inside the body. Healthy people don’t often get infections
even though bacteria and viruses are all around us, even in the
air we breathe.
The body protects itself against the constant risk of infection
by making a lot of neutrophils. They are your main defense against
infections.
People with neutropenia get infections easily and often. Most of
the infections occur in the lungs, mouth and throat, sinuses and
skin. Painful mouth ulcers, gum infections, ear infections and periodontal
disease are common. Severe, life-threatening infections may occur.
Often the child or adult must be hospitalized and receive intravenous
antibiotics. Your doctor uses blood tests to find out whether you
have enough neutrophils.
The level of neutropenia may vary considerably. In general, the
blood of healthy adults contains about 1500 to 7000 neutrophils
per mm3 (1.5 - 7.0 x 109 /1). In children under 6 years of age the
neutrophil count may be lower. The severity of neutropenia generally
depends on the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and is described
as follows:
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Mild neutropenia, when the ANC falls below a lower
limit of 1500 per mm3 (1.5 x 109 /1), but remains higher than
1000 per mm3 (1.0 x 109 /1). |
|
Moderate neutropenia, when the ANC falls between 500 per mm3
and 1000 per mm3 (0.5 x 109 /1 - 1.0 x 109 /1) |
|
Severe neutropenia, when the ANC falls below 500 per mm3 (0.5
x 109 /1) |
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